My Journey to this point

Back in December 2011 mom pointed out to me how much as a kid I loved India and asked me why. I sat and thought about it and told her I always wanted to visit. So she suggested I talk to a friend of hers about a mission trip to India for a few weeks. I sat and thought about it and kind of blew it off. But, to appease her after telling Jess A (my hair stylist) she thought it was a good idea so I ended up calling the guy. Turns out he was sick and well I let it go. But, God wasn’t done with the thought and so he kept putting India to the front of my mind.

Eventually when in class one day I decided to talk to a man that I heard had been to India… or so I thought turns out Mark R. was a missionary to Pakistan but had visited India. That day he showed me different pictures he took gave me his photo information so I could look them up at home and mention the IJM (International Justice Mission) and how he had a friend that had helped out with raids on human traffickers there.

So off to the library I trekked only to realize that no studying would be done until I looked up the information Mark R had given me. From that moment it spiraled so fast. I started to tell people in order to make myself accountable (I’m a Jonah). Eventually I asked 2 friends to see if they would be my personal references. I then talked about it to a professor who agreed to be my professional reference without me even asking. I was too late to go in the summer so I went ahead and planned to head to India in September to be gone for a WHOLE year. And so the journey began.

Eventually I rec’d all the references and it was up to me to finish the application. Everyone I had told was faithful to ask me every time if not every other if I had filled out the application yet. So on April 15^th I sent the email with my application and all the attachments. Secure that I wouldn’t hear from them until May 15^th I went about my business. I did tell everyone I sent in the email and then on the 16^th I mailed off the references. By April 20^th I had an email telling me they wanted to set up a first interview for the program to see if I would be willing to go earlier. I was so excited I think everyone I know got a phone call, email or a Facebook message.

I responded to the email as fast as I could b/c I knew if I didn’t get the interview done on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday I would be out of town to Canada and it would be another week. So the interview was set for Tuesday.